Buying a new TV (in Chch)

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LookingUp

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#107500 13-Aug-2012 12:48

Just wondering how others go about this?

I'm seriously considering plonking down ~$4k on a new TV, and want to make the right decision. I've currently got a ~5 year old 46" Sony Bravia that was top of the line in it's day, but with the more recent advent of good HD source material something larger is now quite attractive.

I've done quite a bit of reading, and it seems as if what I'm after is one of the new Panasonic VT/GT/ST plasmas in the 55"~65" range.

My problem - having traipsed all over town looking at the various options I'm left unsure as to whether it's actually worth doing this upgrade. I've read great things about these TVs, but what I've seen leaves me concerned that it would actually be a backward step. Why?

* The screens are highly reflective, although the VT is slightly less so than the others

* The sets I've seen in the shops appear to be woefully set up, and/or are playing pretty bad source material. After some careful tuning, my TV at home looks better than most I've seen on display, which is a bit of a worry.

* Our living room is quite bright in summer, and although there won't be direct sunlight on the screen I'm concerned about brightness and reflections.

I've looked at LED LCDs, which next to the plasmas make them look rather dull, but they all exhibit two of my issues with my Bravia - poor off-axis performance, and disappointing black levels.

If I was buying HiFi equipment it would be easy, as I have a good relationship with a local speciality shop that lets me "borrow" equipment to test at home, knowing full well that I'll generally be back on Monday paying for it.

I appreciate that this might not be as easy with TVs, being larger and more delicate items, but they'd certainly be more likely to get a sale out of me if they'd give me time to set the things up properly, and try it my environment.

Having talked to quite a few "salespeople" over the last few weeks it's pretty obvious that (with one possible exception) I've done a lot more homework than they have, and that they're really not that helpful. For example none have offered to demo alternative source material or display modes, or suggest that I bring something back to try.

Suggestions & advice welcome.

Things are LookingUp.... A photo from my back yard :-)

mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#671796 13-Aug-2012 13:21

LookingUp: Just wondering how others go about this?

I'm seriously considering plonking down ~$4k on a new TV, and want to make the right decision. ?I've currently got a ~5 year old 46" Sony Bravia that was top of the line in it's day, but with the more recent advent of good HD source material something larger is now quite attractive.

I've done quite a bit of reading, and it seems as if what I'm after is one of the new Panasonic VT/GT/ST plasmas in the 55"~65" range.

My problem - having traipsed all over town looking at the various options I'm left unsure as to whether it's actually worth doing this upgrade. ?I've read great things about these TVs, but what I've seen leaves me concerned that it would actually be a backward step. ?Why?

* The screens are highly reflective, although the VT is slightly less so than the others

* The sets I've seen in the shops appear to be woefully set up, and/or are playing pretty bad source material. ?After some careful tuning, my TV at home looks better than most I've seen on display, which is a bit of a worry.

* ?Our living room is?quite bright in summer, and although there won't be direct sunlight on the screen I'm concerned about brightness and reflections.

I've looked at LED LCDs, which next to the plasmas make them look rather dull, but they all exhibit two of my issues with my Bravia - poor off-axis performance, and disappointing black levels.

If I was buying HiFi equipment it would be easy, as I have a good relationship with a local?speciality?shop that lets me "borrow" equipment to test at home, knowing full well that I'll generally be back on Monday paying for it. ?

I appreciate that this might not be as easy with TVs, being larger and more delicate items, but they'd certainly be more likely to get a sale out of me if they'd give me time to set the things up properly, and try it my environment.?

Having talked to quite a few "salespeople" over the last few weeks it's pretty obvious that (with one possible exception) I've done a lot more homework than they have, and that they're really not that helpful. ?For example none have offered to demo alternative source material or display modes, or suggest that I bring something back to try.

Suggestions & advice welcome.?

Plasmas are best in darker rooms. LCDs are better in lighter rooms.

LookingUp

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#671798 13-Aug-2012 13:27

Ta - my question though is "what do I have?" as dark and light are quite relative.

Things are LookingUp.... A photo from my back yard :-)

mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#671805 13-Aug-2012 13:35

LookingUp: Ta - my question though is "what do I have?" as dark and light are quite relative.

Not really, you can get a light meter to test the lumins. But it sounds like you have got a room that is better for an LCD than a plasma.

LittleDude

164 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#671840 13-Aug-2012 14:57

I recently bought a new TV, decided I needed something bigger than my Samsung 40" LCD. I initially bought the Panasonic ST50 after reading many reviews. The general consensus was that you get most of the quality of the higher Panasonic plasmas for a fraction of the price. I have a bright room but a number of reviewers said that wasn't a problem now due to improvements in the filter and brighter picture. Alas, they were way off the mark...it was unwatchable during the day. I also have light from the side which may defeat the filter. I was expecting to be blown away after the reviews but was actually very disappointed. I'm guessing most reviewers have dedicated viewing rooms rather than a typical living room. In the end I got the Samsung UA55ES6200 which I'm not sure is as good my 6 series LCD but is still great ANY time of the day. Any flaws I have noticed pale in comparison to the woeful daytime performance of the plasma. In a different viewing environment I may have come to different conclusion.
Good luck

LookingUp

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#671859 13-Aug-2012 15:31

Thanks - LittleDude, that's exactly what I'm worried about. Who'd you buy from, and how were they about you returning the plasma?

Things are LookingUp.... A photo from my back yard :-)

Masterpiece

247 posts

Master Geek

#671870 13-Aug-2012 16:07

You could get a pro panel, although you would need a topset box for Freeview.
These can run substantually higher luminance than consumer models.

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LittleDude

164 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#671912 13-Aug-2012 18:42

I bought it from Noel Leeming. I munted the box for the plasma so they said they would just use the TV as a display model. The Samsung actually cost more so I guess that was some consolation for them, but I don't think that they would be too happy if more people kept returning TVs.

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Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#671964 13-Aug-2012 21:04

If you're looking at an LED, the top of the range LG's are glorious, and they leave the likes of Samsung series 8 for dead. There seems to be next to no light bleed, great motion, even decent sound!
It's a truly impressive panel and probably the first LED sold into NZ that would lead me to consider moving away from plasma.

LookingUp

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#672064 14-Aug-2012 08:21

Dunnersfella: If you're looking at an LED, the top of the range LG's are glorious, and they leave the likes of Samsung series 8 for dead. There seems to be next to no light bleed, great motion, even decent sound!
It's a truly impressive panel and probably the first LED sold into NZ that would lead me to consider moving away from plasma.

Thanks. I'd pretty much discounted LG without actually looking at them, so will revisit. Sound quality isn't an issue for me as it's part of an HT setup so the TV is mute.

Things are LookingUp.... A photo from my back yard :-)